Clark Phillips III, Cam Rising Make Semi-Final Cuts For Post Season Awards
Nov 1, 2022, 1:40 PM
Cornerback Clark Phillips III #1 of the Utah Utes reacts after an interception ahead of wide receiver Charles Hall IV #0 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the NCAAF game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III and quarterback Cam Rising both made semi-final cuts for a couple of post season awards Tuesday morning.
Phillips III is currently up for the Bednarik Award which is given out to the best defensive player in the country. The Utes’ standout corner is one of 20 semi-finalists selected for the award named after Chuck Bednarik. The final three will be determined on November 22 with the winner being announced on December 8 on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show. Phillips III also made the semi-finalist cut for the Jim Thorpe Award earlier this fall.
Utah QB @crising7 has been named a semifinalist for the #MaxwellAward#MaxwellFootball pic.twitter.com/cYzptLjD4k
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) November 1, 2022
Rising on the other hand was named one of 20 semi-finalists for the Maxwell Award which is given out annually to the best collegiate player in the nation. Like the Bednarik award, the semifinalists will be narrowed down to three on November 22 with the winner being announced on ESPN’s Award show on December 8.
A Closer Look At Phillips III, Rising This Season
Both Phillips III and Rising have been great for the Utes in 2022.
Phillips III currently has 19 total tackles on the season, 14 of which are solo. He has also recorded five interceptions which is tied for first in the country- two of which are pick-sixes. Phillips III’s stat sheet rounds off with a sack against USC’s Caleb Williams and two passes defended.
Congrats @ClarkPhillips21! 💪💪https://t.co/bywGcPzBpN https://t.co/2QjoHrCVan
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 1, 2022
Rising has thrown for 1,855 yards so far in 2022 with a 68.9% completion rate. He has thrown 15 touchdown passes to three interceptions and has a QBR of 89.4 that puts him fifth in the country amongst all quarterbacks.
Up next Rising and Phillips III will have their eyes set on Arizona who will be visiting the Utes in Salt Lake City. The game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Networks. Utah is currently in the hunt for their second Pac-12 Title with Rising and Phillips III’s efforts going a long way to making that goal a reality.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
